Matt Ercolani:

Prior to participating in the 2012 TI:ME Leadership Academy, I was skeptical about technology’s applications in music education.  I thought it was a gimmick.  I thought it was overcomplicating education, and made teachers teach their students about technology, not music.  After attending the Academy, I am a believer.  I believe that it is truly possible to do as Barb Freedman says: “Teach music.  The technology will follow.”   I now realize that technology is the future of music education.  We as educators can use it as a tool to make music accessible to more students than ever before.  Non-traditional music students have so many musical outlets and tools available to them on the computer, and educators have a responsibility to learn about them in order to reach as many students as possible.  If music is important to study, it’s important for everyone to learn about, not just those in band, orchestra, and choir!  We are on the forefront of a movement.  I can’t wait to help shape it!

Matt Ercolani is in his third year as an undergraduate music education major at Rowan University in Glassboro, New Jersey.  At Rowan University, he is the Vice-President of the Rowan chapter of Collegiate NAfME (National Association for Music Education), and helps lead the most active collegiate chapter in the state.  He is also in the process of starting a collegiate chapter of TI:ME (Technology Institute for Music Educators) at Rowan.  Mr. Ercolani has taught at music camps across the country, including as a member of the all-volunteer SWAG Team at the 2010 Music-For-All Summer Symposium in Normal, Illinois.  He has attended numerous regional and national music education conferences.  Most recently, he was selected for participation in the first-ever TI:ME Leadership Academy at the 2012 TI:ME National Conference in Louisville, Kentucky.  Mr. Ercolani is an active freelance private teacher and musician in the South Jersey area.  His research and teaching interests include early childhood music education and utilizing technology to teach non-traditional music students. You can find more about him at http://mattercolani.wordpress.com.